This dry caving adventure while surprisingly gentle is an elating experience not to be missed! Just ask Tom Cruise - he's done it 4 times!
Your journey to another world begins with an abseil 100m below the earth's surface secured by your guide who descends alongside you.
Slowly you lower into the void, turning on the rope like a spider as the world transforms around you. The light filtering through the mist gives unearthly qualities to the unusual plant life and formations of the cave.
The cavern you have abseiled (rappelled) into is over twice the height of any other cave in Waitomo and it's beauty and grandeur are unsurpassed.
From here you embark on a subterranean adventure back to the surface through another giant cavern. You'll see glow worms, huge limestone formations and conquer a 30-metre long ladder climb.
Waitomo Adventures are a consistent Certificate of Excellence Winner with Trip Advisor and are ranked the number 1 attraction in the area with a 5-star rating - Come and see for yourself why this is a must-do attraction in an experience that will remain with you forever.
Photography: Personalised photos are provided to clients via the internet at no extra charge. No client photography equipment is permitted. Please inquire if you require a private photography tour.
Location: 1227 Waitomo Valley Road, Waitomo
Fitness Test:If the guide(s) on the day have any doubt about a client’s fitness they may ask them to prove it by completing a fitness-test. One quick and simple test we may use is “to step up and down a 20 cm (8 inches) step not less than 45 times in 60 seconds”. We strongly recommend clients complete this test before they book their activity and before they travel to Waitomo. Clients may also be requested to submit to breath-testing for alcohol or other drugs. Where appropriate, guides may at their sole discretion cancel a departure or remove an unsuitable client from a departing trip for any safety-related reason.
Pregnancy: We do not recommend abseiling (rappelling) during the 1st and 3rd trimester due to the need to wear a tight-fitting harness across your waist during the abseil.
All pregnant clients wishing to participate in one of our adventure options must provide a medical certificate from their General Medical Practitioner confirming that they are fit for abseiling (rappelling) and caving.
This policy is required for us to comply with the NZ Adventure Safety Regulations.
All prices are shown inNZD ($)
Hey Bénédicte ! Thanks so much for your wonderful review -it is much appreciated We feel very lucky to have this as our underground playground :)
Anna is amazing!! And this is an unforgettable experience ❤️
Hi Maggie We thought YOU were amazing too - congratulations for taking on this surreal experience and leaping into the unknown !
This experience could not have been more perfect. My partner and I were lucky enough in the low season to get the whole cave to ourselves, and it was just so special. Joel is super knowledgeable and helpful (and an excellent photographer!), couldn't have had a better guide in the Lost World. We both felt completely safe the entire time. The abseil down was thrilling, and climbing around the cave was so much fun. Nice little quiet moment toward the end admiring the glow worms around us in the cave.
What a lovely review - thanks so much Ria ! We're delighted to be able to give this experience to people who really appreciate the "specialness" of this cave...a perfect combination :)
We came as a group of four in winter and there were only us and Jo as well as Emma. So VIP experience! Jo is super patient, friendly and articulate the entire journey, making us feel emotionally supported and secure. Thx Jo!! And Emma was actually on her last day of duty that day, making the entire experience even more special. We would definitely recommend this experience to everyone coming to NZ. Waitomo Lost World tour is simply a journey YOU CANNOT MISS!
Hey Madison Thanks so much for your review ! Winter is a great time for this option because it's a dry trip and therefore warmer than most adventure tours... but you guys already had warm personalities in any case - ideal for a boutique experience like this. Wishing you happy and safe adventuring :)
We loved our experience with Waitomo Adventures, it was well executed, the two lads who was with our group were friendly, helpful and clearly very qualified to lead us on the abseil and around the cave. Couldn't recommend enough!
Thanks very much Sheryl :) We really appreciate your comments. ..and thanks for "dropping in" ...keep up the great adventuring !
Copyright © 2025 Bookme Limited.
Bénédicte fromFrance wrote on 19 September 2025
Fantastic Lost World Tour 4h
I did the Lost Worl tour of 4h with Hagan, Erin and Joel. The tour was amazing ! A big thanks to the guides as I felt very safe going down the 100m abseiling rope, walking in the cave and going up the 30m ladder. I felt very small going down the cave surrounded by the beautiful vegetation! It was as if I was in another world ! Highly recommend !